News, notes, and anecdotes on the Fort Wayne TinCaps

Who’s on Third, Roster Rundown & a Personalized Bobblehead

One of the funniest moments of the weekend was brought to me via Twitter.

If you’re reading this blog I think it’s safe to say you’re familiar with the old Abbott and Costello skit “Who’s on First?”

It’s hilarious, it’s a classic, and it was almost lived out in real life at some point during spring training:

Read closely.

It was bound to happen at some point. After about four or five innings, all of the big league guys are out of the spring training games because they want to face only the best competition, and not wear themselves out before a long season. Then you’ve got a bevy of players who will not be on a major league roster this year slotting in and out of the game. Some may be on the provided roster, others might not.

Along the way a producer or production assistant filled in that graphic, and it was probably never supposed to go on the air, but it did. It’s one of those moments where you think to yourself, “Oh right, I’ve got to do that later” and then go and do something else while forgetting about the thing you said you were going to do. It’s spring training for the TV crew too—just gotta work out the kinks!

Who’s at Parkview Field?

Opening Night here at Parkview Field is next Thursday. This is excellent news. If you are planning on being there and already have your tickets, we look forward to seeing you. If you’re planning on being there and for some reason have procrastinated on getting your tickets, click here. Problem solved!

Andriese is a 6’3″, 210 lb. right-hander from California who was a third round pick in last year’s draft by the Padres. At rookie-level Eugene, he appeared in 12 games and started eight of them. He went 5-1 with a 1.51 ERA and struck out 42 while walking just 10 in 42 2/3 innings. There’s no saying how that’ll translate into Midwest League action, but those numbers as a starting pitcher are promising.

Matt Colantonio

Colantonio is a catcher from Garden City, N.Y., who holds degrees in both economics and history from Brown University. Last year with Eugene, he hit .265 in 53 games. Here’s what he had to say about getting the opportunity to play baseball at an Ivy League institution:

“When you’re playing a sport that you’ve loved your whole life, and you get the opportunity to play it in such a great school as Brown, the academics are made easier in a way,” he said. “You are able to balance academics with baseball, and being able to take your mind away from the rigors of school work for part of the day is a positive.”

Kyle Gaedele

A 6’3″, 220 lb. outfielder from Arlington Heights, IL, Gaedele went to college not far from Fort Wayne, attending Valparaiso University. The Padres took him in the sixth round of the draft last summer, making him the highest draft pick ever out of the school. He hit .203 in 63 games last season with Eugene, and was a perfect 9 for 9 on stolen base attempts.

Duanel Jones

An 18-year-old out of the Dominican Republic, Jones showed some good power last season at rookie-level Peoria, hitting eight home runs in 37 games. He played at third base all of last season, splitting time between Peoria, and then later Eugene. He turns 19 in May, but if he became an every day player for the TinCaps, he’d be one of the youngest starters in the league. Last year the Midwest League had just three 18-year old regulars. West Michigan’s Nick Castellanos, who also plays third , was a starter last year for the Whitecaps and hit .312 with 7 HR and 79 RBI in 135 games last year–and he did it all as a 19-year-old. It can be done, but it’s not easy.

Colin Rea

A former Indiana State Sycamore, Rea is a tall (6’5″, 225) righty who started 15 games for the Eugene Emeralds last season. He went 3-4, with a 2.21 ERA in 53 innings and struck out 43 while walking 21. In college, Rea was the Friday night starter for ISU, and was then taken in the 12th round last year by San Diego.

Here’s the deal: If you’re in the ballpark on Opening Day (April 5th) and you have a ticket that’s been scanned into the system, you’re eligible to win a life-size bobblehead of you that will be given out later this season to 1,000 fans at a TinCaps game. All you’ve got to do is show up to the game! Pretty cool. Lots more special things like this to come this season. Stay tuned.

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.